ANNOUNCING A NEW ERA OF PELICANS COVERAGE 🏀

Chrissy Smith • August 3, 2026

For more than 15 years, I had the privilege of telling sports stories as a writer. Before that, I experienced the game from a different perspective—as a college basketball player.

Those experiences shaped how I see basketball. The game is more than a final score. It's about the decisions, the adjustments, the matchups, the strategy, and the moments that decide winning and losing.


That's why I'm excited to launch a new chapter of Pelicans coverage focused on one simple idea:

Understand the Pelicans. Don't just watch them.


Starting this season, I'll be providing in-depth coverage of the New Orleans Pelicans through:

*  Weekly written analysis breaking down the team, players, strategy, and biggest storylines.

 * Film breakdowns explaining the X's and O's behind what happens on the court.

 * Weekly podcast conversations discussing the latest from the Pelicans and the NBA.


My goal is simple: to give Pelicans fans thoughtful, fair, and knowledgeable coverage that helps you see the game in a different way. Just honest reporting, basketball insight, and a passion for the New Orleans Pelicans.


Whether you've been following this team for 20 years or you're just getting started, I hope you'll join me as we take a deeper look at the team we all love.


Understand the Pelicans. Don't just watch them.


A quick share helps us a lot!

Athlete in black shirt and shorts crouches on indoor turf in a training facility.

Transfer Portal Spotlight: Riley Rushing

By Patrick Harkness • August 3, 2026
OG 
Riley Rushing- (D2) Mars Hill U 
Riley Rushing fits Tulane as a 6’4”, 295-pound versatile interior offensive lineman (OG with OT experience) with proven D-II starting production, elite physical finish, block-sustaining ability, and pancake-heavy run-game dominance who immediately adds competition and depth to a revamped OL room needing toughness and flexibility after key graduations. 
He’s a junior transfer from Mars Hill University (D-II, North Carolina) who committed on January 5, 2026, via the portal (entered November 20, 2025). A product of Milton HS in Alpharetta, GA (near Atlanta), he has two years of eligibility remaining (#71).  
Athletic Profile and Scheme Fit: Tulane’s offensive line (under head coach Will Hall and OL coach Cody Kennedy) prioritizes physical, nasty trench warriors who sustain blocks through the whistle, dominate the run game with pancakes, and provide reliable pass protection on the interior in their west coast hybrid attack. Rushing is a perfect match as a high-floor, scheme-versatile piece. 
• Size and physicality: At 6’4”/295, he brings a powerful, long-levered frame with the agility to play fast, ideal for sealing edges, pulling, and finishing blocks violently. 
• Versatility and technique: Two-year starter who has lined up at both OG and OT (plus interior flexibility). Excels at sustaining blocks and piling up pancakes; recorded zero sacks allowed in the 2025 season despite heavy snaps. 
• Intangibles: Southeast ties (Alpharetta, GA) and a reputation as a relentless, high-motor finisher who brings toughness and football IQ from a competitive D-II program. Tulane targeted portal OLs with immediate starting upside to replace departed starters like LT Derrick Graham and LG Shadre Hurst. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
A.J. Westfield in a blue Tulane uniform with stats: 65 tackles, 10 sacks, 25 TFLs, 1 INT

Class of 2026 Spotlight: AJ Westfield

By Patrick Harkness • August 3, 2026
DL 
AJ Westfield 6-2/281 Cleveland, TN 
A.J. Westfield is a versatile defensive lineman from the Class of 2026, playing for Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tennessee. 
As a two-way player with experience on both sides of the line, Westfield has shown promise as a disruptive interior defender capable of lining up in multiple spots along the defensive front. 
His multi-sport background, including basketball as a 6-2 power forward, enhances his athletic profile and contributes to his fluidity in space. 
Westfield committed to Tulane early in his recruitment process and signed during the early period, positioning him as a key addition to the Green Wave’s defensive line class. He is described by evaluators as an “absolute monster” with high upside, particularly in generating backfield pressure.  
Scouting report: 
Build: Strong, sturdy frame with good overall size for an interior lineman. Broad shoulders and a powerful lower body that supports explosive movements. 
Speed/Explosion: Demonstrates impressive quickness off the snap, with excellent footwork and burst. 
Versatility: Can line up anywhere on the defensive front, interior tackle, edge rusher, or 3-tech. His ability to “attack any of the five offensive linemen” (per Prep Redzone scout Shayne Pickering) makes him a scheme-flexible asset, ideal for modern defenses that rotate personnel. 
Quickness and Footwork: Exceptional first-step explosion allows him to burst off the edge or interior and penetrate gaps quickly. Excellent footwork enables him to adjust mid-play, shed blocks, and pursue quarterbacks or ball carriers effectively. Described as having “incredible quickness” that leads to consistent backfield pressure (SI). 
Athleticism and Motor: Basketball background translates to fluid movement in space, balance, and lateral agility. High motor, relentless in pursuit, generates pressure “at all times” (Prep Redzone). Strong hands and leverage help him win at the point of attack. 
Run Defense: Powerful lower body and technique make him stout against the run. His 40 TFL in a single season demonstrate gap integrity and the ability to stack and shed blockers. 
Pass Rush: Effective interior rusher with a developing arsenal of moves. Uses quickness to collapse pockets and has shown the ability to convert speed to power. Potential to be a consistent sack producer at the college level. 
Development Potential: On a “promising development arc” (Prep Redzone), with the frame to add weight and strength. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkenss on X
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